spiralrope - sagescupboard

Spiral Rope

Create a chain of bead spirals

Spiral Rope

Basic Spiral Rope:

Materials:

Seed beads in two colors (Color A and Color B)
Thread
Needle

You May Also Need:

Scissors
Bead Cups
Ruler

Note: The Color A beads will become the core of the spiral, and the Color B beads will make up the spiral rows. These directions use 3 beads in the core chain. If more beads are used, be sure they are large enough to take an equal number of thread passes.

1) Pick up 4 Color A beads and 4 Color B beads. Slide them down, leaving an 8 inch tail.

2) Stitch back up through the Color A beads and pull tight. You should now have two stacks of beads side-by-side.

3) Pick up one A bead and 4 B beads.

4) Stitch into the main beadwork through the top 3 core (Color A) beads . Pull tight.

5) Stitch through the last A bead added and pull tight.

6) Repeat steps 3-5 until the rope is the desired length. Finish the ends as desired, secure threads and trim.

Adding and ending thread:

With about 6 inches of working thread remaining at the end of Step 4, stitch back into the last stack of Color B beads added, and follow the thread path into the core. Stitch back through the beadwork, tieing knots along the spiral if desired.

Attach a stop-bead to the new thread, leaving a six inch tail. Stitch into the core beads, at least 6 beads away from the end of the rope. Exit the last core bead and stitch into the Color A bead remaining from the last stitch. Continue stitching as before. (Steps 3-5 above.)

Spiral Rope Variations:

Create different looks by:

increasing the number of beads in the core and/or spiral rows

using different sizes and/or types of beads in the spiral rows

create patterns within the rows either vertically or horizontally with different colored beads

"Leftovers" Embellished Spiral Rope:

Materials:

Seed beads in one or more colors for the core chain (A Beads)
Assorted mixture of leftover beads (B Beads)
Accent beads
Thread
Needle

You May Also Need:

Spacer Beads (if your accent beads have large holes)
Scissors
Bead Cups
Ruler

Note: If you wish to have a center focal bead, or an even number of accent beads on either side of your rope, divide your leftover beads in half before you begin to make sure that you have an equal amount on either side.

1) Pick up 4 A Beads and 4 B Beads. Slide them down, leaving an 8 inch tail.

2) Stitch back up through the first 3 A Beads and pull tight. You should now have two stacks of beads side-by-side.

3) Stitch up through the remaining A Bead on the stack of B Beads and pull tight. Pick up one A bead and 3 B Beads.

4) Continue stitching with the spiral rope technique, adding 3 B Beads at a time for a total of 5 rows.

5) On the 6th row, pick up one A Bead and 4 B Beads. Add another 5 spiral rows with 4 B Beads per row.

6) On the 11th row, pick up one A Bead and 5 B Beads.

7) On the 16th row, pick up one A Bead and 6 B Beads. Continue adding rows with 6 B Beads, spacing out your accent beads as desired.

8) To add accent beads, stitch back into the row where you want to place the bead, exiting in the center of the row. Pick up one or more seed beads, the accent bead, and two seed beads. Slide them down to the beadwork.

9) Skipping the last seed bead, stitch back into the string of beads and into the spiral row, exiting at the core. Pull tight.

10) Stitch up into the core and exit at the top. Continue stitching normally.

11) When the rope is the desired length, finish the ends as desired, secure the threads and trim.

For additional variations and spiral rope tips, visit:

Variety Beading: Spiral Rope

Dutch Spiral:

Materials:

Size 8o seed beads
Size 10o seed beads in two colors (Color A and Color B)
Thread
Needle

You May Also Need:

Scissors
Bead Cups
Ruler

Note: The core beads (Color A) should be delicas or other beads suitable for peyote stitch.

1) Use an 8o bead to create a stop-bead with an 8 inch tail.
2) Pick up 3 Color A beads and 2 Color B beads. Stitch through the 8o bead and pull tight to form a ring.
3) Pick up one 8o bead and stitch through the first core (Color A) bead in the previous round. Pull tight.
4) Pick up one Color A bead and stitch through the second core bead from the previous round. Pull tight. Repeat for the next core bead.
5) Pick up one Color A bead and 3 Color B beads. Stitch through the 8o bead from the start of this round. This will form a second ring above the first.
6) Pick up an 8o and stitch through the first raised core bead. Pull tight.
7) Pick up one Color A bead and stitch through the next raised bead. Repeat.
8) Pick up one Color A and 4 Color B beads. Stitch through the last 8o bead added and pull tight.
9) Continue adding rounds in this manner, using peyote stitch in the core, and increasing the number of Color B's until the spirals are the desired width. 8 to 10 beads is ideal.
10) Add more rounds of the same width until you are ready to decrease and finish the rope. Reduce the number of Color B beads in each round by one until you pick up two.
11) Stitch back through the final round to secure it. Finish the ends as desired, secure threads and trim.

Adding and ending thread:

With 6 inches of working thread remaining at the end of a round, stitch into the spiral from the previous round instead of picking up 1 core and a set of spiral beads. Follow the thread path and enter the core beadwork. Stitch back through the core, securing the thread with knots every 4 to 6 beads. Trim the excess thread.

Secure a stop bead to the new thread and enter the core beadwork at least 6 rows back from the last round. Make sure that you have enough room the exit the last raised core bead while still following the thread path. Pick up a core bead and a set of spiral beads and continue stitching normally.

Dutch Spiral Varations:

Create different looks by: